Superstructure of railways



.2 SheetsSheet l.

S. 11'. LONG. WROUGHT IRON SUPERSTRUOTURE FOR RAILROADS.

N0. 19,704. Patented Mar. 23, 1858.

iiv 33 Y R: z

Ell:

m fia fizz wal a).-

THE mums harms co. FHOTD-LITHOH wAiHvNuroN n c 2 SheetsSheefi 2.

s.H.LONG. WROUGHT IRON SUPERSTRUGTURE FOR RAILROADS.

No. 19,704. Patented Mar. 23, 1858.

ERS co, PHOTO-LUNG" WASHWGTON. D. c.

m: Norms PET UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN H. LONG, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SUPERSTRUCTURE O'F RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,704, dated March 23, 1858.

clear, and exact description of the construction and application of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, (marked Nos. 1 and 2,) making a part of this specification.

The objects of this my invention and the benefits expected to result therefrom are asv follows, viz: firmness, durability, efficiency and economy of structure, safety and despatch of conveyance, together with uniformity and facility of construction and application, all of which are proposed to be attained by means of arrangements and appliances as follows, viz:

Item 1st: The rails may be of the ordinary form and construction of the T rail, the U rail, or the rectangular or square rail with a flanged base, the rails having a uniform length of 15, 18, 21, 24, or 27 feet, with their flanges or bases pierced wit-h holes about half an inch in diameter for the reception of rivets or bolts, to confine them to the other parts of the superstructure.

Item 2d: Grade plates about 6 feet long under the abutting ends of the rails and elsewhere of any convenient lengths, not exceeding 6 -or 8 feet, on which the rails are to repose. These plates are of two distinct varieties, distinguished by their positions with respect to the rails, viz: The compensation grade plates, and the intermediate grade plates. The compensation grade plate occupies a position immediately beneath the abutting ends of any two rails, and extends equal distances in the direction of the rails, from their abutting joint. This plate is perforated with holes corresponding to the first and second sets of holes, at and near the ends of the abutting rails, the holes in the compensation grade plates being oblong or elongated, of the same transverse cliameter, and about 11}- of the latter in longitudinal diameter, as compared with the holes in the bases of the rails, and in the sleepers.

substituted for the reception of the rivets or bolts.

The intermediate grade plates occupy positions between the compensation grade plates. These plates are also pierced with holes, corresponding in position to the intermed-iate holes of the rail, and serve as before for the reception of rivets or bolts to confine the rail to other parts of the superstructure on which they rest.

Item 3dr Compensation or abutting sleepers, at the junction of each set or pair of rails. These sleepers should extend across the rail-track, and about one foot beyond the rails, on both sides of'the track; Each sleeper may be constructed of a single piece or plate, folded and flanged in a manner to represent in transverse section the letter T with a single cap and doublestem, or of two angular segments combined by two or more rivets or bolts, inserted through its duplicate stem or rib, about midway of the sleeper. A transverse section of the latter, as well as of the former, will present the form of the letter T. These sleepers are pierced with holes corresponding to those in the ends of the rails, and of the same size.

Item 4th: Common or quarter sleepers, on both sides of the abutting sleeper, and about two feet therefrom. These sleepers may be of the same form and construction, as the abutting sleepers, except, that their width on the road grade, may be less by about two inches and that their rivet holes need not exceed two, at both ends of each sleeper.

Note: The sleepers mentioned in the two preceding items, may be furnished with anchor plates of a suitable form, for the purpose of preventing the sleepers from slipping transversely of the road, and of keeping them in their proper positions. The anchor plates may be attached to the ribs of the sleepers, and confined to the same by the rivets that combine the segments of the sleeper.

Item 5th: Stationary or fixed sleepers, each consisting of a single piece, molded in a manner to afford a flange or rib on each side, of the same depth as the rib or double stem of the other sleepers, and subserving a similar purpose, viz: that of preventing the superstructure from slipping forth and back on the road grade. The width of these sleepers may be the same as that of the common sleepers. Their form and construction may likewise be similar to those of the common sleeper if preferred.

The parts above designated, and the relative positions occupied by them in the superstructure will be more clearly understood by an inspection of the accompanying drawings (No. l and No. 2) and their explanations which are as follows:

Figure 1, a horizontal or ground plan of the superstructure, with transverse sections of the sleepers (cross-ties) annexed, showing the relative position of the several parts of the superstructure; Fig. 2, a vertical and longitudinal section through the rails, grade plates, and sleepers showing the order in which the parts recline on the road grade; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the combined superstructure at the line of junction between the segments of the compensation or abutting sleepers and showing the position of the anchor plates, &c.; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of a stationary sleeper, or a side view of an abutting sleeper, as also of a common sleeper, showing the positions of the rails, rivets, &c., and their combinations; Fig. 5, a horizontal view of an intermediate grade plate, showing the positions of its rivet holes; Fig. 6, a horizontal View of a compensation grade plate,

sition and size of its holes or mortises; Fig.

7, a side view and section of the anchor plate; Fig. 8, plan of the grade plates and sleepers, showing the forms and positions of the elongated holes or mortises, as also the positions of the rivets in the mortises, at a mean temperature of the Weather; Fig. 9, side View or section of the same, surmounted by parts of two rails, in which the elongated holes in the grade plates, and the rivets passing through the latter, and confining the sleepers to the bases of the rails, are represented; Fig. 10, a transverse section of a rail resting on its grade plate, and a stationary sleeper, these several parts being confined together by rivets.

References and explanations-A, A, &c., the rails pierced with holes for the reception of rivet-s or bolts, to confine the rails to the sleepers, &c.; a, b, compensation grade plates pierced with holes or furnished with notches or mortises corresponding to the holes atand near the ends of the rails; 79, 0, station ary or intermediate grade plates pierced with holes, corresponding to the intermediate holes (6 or more) in each of the rails; 0!, cl, the ribs of the abutting and common sleepers; e, e, the flanges or semi-ribs of the stationary sleepers; f, f, the anchor plates connected with the abut-ting sleepers; B, B,

abutting or compensation sleeper, a trans verse section of which resembles the letter T with double stem and single cap; C, C, common sleepers occupying positions about two showing the pofeet from compensation sleepers, on both sides of the same, and similar to the latter in form and construction; D, D, stationary sleepers with a flange or semi-ribs on each side, and of the form indicated by the sections at the bottom of Fig. 1. (Note: The stationary sleepers may be of the form represented at D, D, or may be similar in form, construction, and manner of attachment to the rails to those of the Ammon sleeper;) a", oblong holes through the grade plates, with rivets passing through them, and confining the rail base to the sleeper, in amanner to admit said base and sleeper to move forth and back, without disturbing the grade plate, the movements as just intimated being occasioned by the expansion and contraction of the rails by changes of temperature; s, splicing plates connected to each other by screw bolts or rivets passing through them, and through mortises near the abutting ends of two rails, for the pur 'pose of keeping the ends of the rails in a rectilinear direction, &c. This improvement was probably in use prior to the date of this invention.

N. B. The letters of reference apply indiscriminately to all the figures, in connection with which they have been introduced into the drawings, which are to be regarded as part and parcel of this specification.

The principal parts and appendages to which my said invention applies are as follows, viz: The grade plates for the double purpose of enlarging the bearing of the superstructure upon the grade or road-bed, and of providing the means of compensating for the changes produced in the lengths of the rails, by changes of temperature, without deranging other parts of the superstructure; the manner of constructing and applying the abutting or compensation and common sleepers, with their anchor plates, also the stationary sleepers, all for the purposes of enlarging the bearings of the superstructure, as before,of preventing said superstructure from sliding forward, backward, and laterally, on the road-grade,of confining the rails in their proper places on the road,of keeping the central portions of each rail immovable while their terminal portions are allowed to expand or con- Having thus fully described the nature creeping as it is termed) of the rails, shall and object of my invention, What I claim as not be communicated to the grade plates, new in the construction of Wrought iron. which allows said plates to retain their posuperst-ructure for rail roads is sition regardless of the moving of the rails 5 1. The combination of grade plates, and substantially as herein stated.

ribbed sills as herein set forth, and for the purposes described. STEPHEN H. LONG.

2. I also claim bolting the rail to the sill, Witnesses: through the grade plates, in such manner as THOS. R. SINToN,

10 that the expansion and contraction (or HENRY C. LONG. 

